The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-05-26
Ambition.

Lecture by H. Burnett, York. Eng
land: ..What is ambition?' To
answer this question let us take an
illustration. We see boy just start
ing out upon the rough journey Of life;
We will suppose he wishes to be an
artist. He is struck with the beauty Of
some great painting, and his only
wish. his only longing. is that some
day he may be as clever and produce
rs great painting as the artist who
executed the work he SO much admires.
New just let us watch this boys pro-
gress; he works early and late. studies
I'LL the beautiful harmony Of color. all
the beauty of dress and figure; and at
last the day arrives when he has
reached the summit of his ambition;
he has painted some great picture.
which is exhibited at the Academy and
makes the painter Of it, in the eyes Of
the world. clever man.
Now this is one instance of ambition,
and we may take ii as sample, al
though every man has a different OBJ
ject he is in pursuit Of. But what !
really wish to speak Of is a sense of
real healthful ambition, free from
covetousness free from selfish motives,
free from motives for the gain Of money.
Let us ask ourselves is the ambition we
foster really love for money, or is tia
real. healthful ambition? Let us con-
slider briefly few of the hindrances to
Il healthful ambition. The first which
shows itself to us is self. Now we are
all selfish; we love ourselves, and you
will pardon me if say we love our
selves too much. We, in fact, live in
an atmosphere of self. Any little notion,
any little thought we have, is to q great
extent selfish. Now to make way for
Il healthful ambition we must put away
selfishness.
Now we will suppose we all have an
ambition, we long to do something to
help our fellow man; we long to be Of
some use to the world. We want to do
something big, something that will
prove useful to every one. 1t may be to
find out something that lies beneath the
earth's surface, or some new discovery
i'll astronomy, or again to solve some
historical mystery. But whatever our
ambition may be, let us set to work
with will, let us lido what our hand
findeth to with all our might" Now do
not let us suppose That shaking of self
ishness and covetousness all our troub-
les are over and that we have only to
work along and all will he smooth. Not
SO, we have only just left the shore;
wait until we get out into deeper water
Deset us. First there is the temptation
Of pleasure, worldly-empty pleasure.
Now, do net suppose for one moment
l mean that exercise and pleasure are
not needful, quite the opposite. Recre-
alton is to the mind what whetting is
to the scythe; it puts new keen edge
upon it. putting it, SO to speak, in good
health to receive what we wish to learn.
Then there is the trouble of laziness.
There are times when we feel tired and
tagged out; an hours amusement will
cure it. But real laziness. if fostered,
will grow upon you like ivy grows upon
an old wall. 1t is truly wonderful how
idleness clings to man; it is kind Of
temptation that always attacks one
when he is about to start work. Let
us then be armed against all these
temptations, which are great and de-
structive hindrances, and by steady
perseverance, thrift and industry we
shall reach the goal.
Now, young men, | am young
man myself; want to say few words
to you. No matter in what grade OF
society you may be. there is mission
for you to fulfill in this life. OF course
you will want to know what that mis-
sion is; it is usefulness. | don't care
whether you fulfill it or not, it stares
you in the face and YOU cannot &c,
away from il. The next question you
will ask is. How can be useful? The
answer-the only answers upright
ness, by honesty in word and deed; BY
being true to God and your fellow men.
Are you striving to live SO? If you are
congratulate you; you are happy
man; YOU are the man England wants
America wants, the world wants. BE-
charitable to everyone; let your light
SO shine before those around you, that
by your perseverance. your tact and
| onarpy thov may ho lnd into tho frnx